USA > Ohio > Ohio in the time of the Confederation > Part 13
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Evening the Express that had been sent in search of Colonels Sproat and Sherman, returned and re- ported, that Sherman was at the Mingo Bottom, to which place he went for Provisions for himself and party, and he supposed Sproat was with him, from the number of tracks he discovered leading from their Ranges that Way. - As I was now satisfied re- specting the safety of Colonels Sproat and Sherman, and being anxious to know the sentiments of the Sur- veyors relative to their immediately proceeding to business, I was induced to write them a Letter of which the following is a Copy.
"Gentlemen,
For your mature consideration, I think it my duty to lay before you the enclosed Intelligence : and prev- iously to your honouring me with your answer and opinion, which I desire may be as soon as possible, I beg leave to inform you, that Major Hamtramck has declared to me his readiness to Cover you Gentle- men in the course of your duty as far as possible with the number of Troops under his Command: and I have the pleasure to assure you that I am also ready to proceed with you. - Should any of you Gentlemen happen to be of opinion, your accompanying me to completely finish the thirteen Ranges this Season may not comport with your personal safety, you will afford me your assistance in finishing the fourth Range at least, with as many more Ranges as you may determine on; that Congress may be enabled to proceed to the Sale of part of their Lands immediate- ly after my return with your Surveys to New York.
It would be unnecessary for me to remind you Gen- tlemen how much depends on the success of our oper-
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ations : however, you will no doubt take into consid- eration the poverty of the publick Treasury, the want of means to discharge the foreign as well as the Domestic debts of the United States, and how far the success of our endeavours to survey as much as possible of the western Territory, will contribute to- wards supporting the most important Interests of the federal Government. - I have the honour to be with sentiments of Esteem and respect
Gentlemen
Camp near the Ohio 5 Miles your most obedient
below little beaver Rivulet
and most hble servant
October 1st. 1786. Tho : Hutchins
To the Gentlemen surveyors in the Western Terri- tory.
The answer I received in consequence of the above Letter is contained in the enclosed paper Nº 3. -
I beg leave to observe it has uniformly been my opinion if no further unfavourable accounts arrived than those already submitted to the consideration of the Gentlemen surveyors, that the seventh Range might be surveyed under Cover of the Troops with as much safety as the fourth Range. I therefore de- sired M' Morris to propose it to the surveyors when they were determining on the steps to be taken rela- tive to their returning to their duty; which he ac- cordingly did, and which they unanimously refused complying with. Upon which I advised the Gentle- men who were to complete the second, third, and fourth Ranges, to provide themselves with hands, horses and provisions as soon as possible, which they are now doing, and this morning Captain Mar- tin set out under Cover of a Subaltern and twenty
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Men to finish the second Range. - This afternoon Colonel Sherman arrived and expressed his willing- ness to finish his Range, and the day following, the 2nd of October, he set out to engage hands & for the purpose.
October the 3rd. This afternoon Colonel Sproat ar- rived after having proceeded, so far on the fourth Range as to complete four Townships, when being out of Provisions, and receiving information that the Indians had killed some people East of the Ohio near to Weeling, he thought it prudent to retire. that on the 19th of September he sent a soldier with a horse from the line where he was surveying to his camp- distant about a Mile and a half. - that neither the Soldier nor the horse have been heard of since. Colonel Sproat further adds, that from the tracks lately discovered by his hunter, he has reason to ap- prehend their having been taken off by some Indians. -Lieut. Petre, who accompanied Colonel Sproat, also lost a valuable horse, which he thinks was taken off by Indians, as their tracks were followed a num- ber of Miles Westward by two hunters he had em- ployed to find his horse. - Colonel Sproat further said that on his arrival at Mingo bottom the first of October he was told that a few days before, two In- dians had taken a Negro Man Prisoner near that set- tlement, and on hearing some Bells one of the In- dians went off with an intention as the Negro sup- posed, to steal horses. that though the Negroes Arms were pinioned, yet he found means to obtain so much liberty with them as enabled him to kill the Indian who was left to guard him-after which he went to one Shepherds, being the nearest settler to him, and reported what he had done; upon which a small par-
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ty marched to the place and found what the Negro had said to be true. - Coll. Sproat having corrobo- rated the opinion of some of the surveyors, that the best rout to return to their respective Ranges, and the easiest way for the Troops to March, was by the Mingo Bottom. Major Hamtramck in consequence purposed setting out for that place immediately on the arrival of Lieut. Bissels party who were hourly expected. The 4th of October Colonel Sproat pro- ceeded for the Mingo Bottom, to engage hands pur- chase provisions &. - The 5th it rained all day and great part of the Night, as it had almost constantly done these five days past. - At 3 o'clock P.M. Lieut. Bissel returned, and brought with him a Soldier of Major Sergent's party who had lost himself, and had been nine days mostly without provisions. Lieut. Bissel reported that he had discovered the tracks of a Horse and also of two Indians, supposed to be those who had taken Colonel Sproats horse and the Sol- diers who is still missing. The Troops were detain- ed in Camp by wet weather untill the 7th of October, when about 12 o'clock they crossed the Ohio on their way to the Mingo bottom. - The 8th in the morning I set out and arrived at the same place in the after- noon. The 9th at 10, o'clock A.M. the troops arriv- ed and continued their March to Buffaloe Rivulet 93 distant about four Miles below Mingo bottom, at which place the surveyors were desired to attend to receive the detachments destined to guard them re- spectively. - Here Major Sergent signified he was ready and Willing to survey the fifth Range : he was immediately furnished with a guard for the purpose : and notwithstand the unfavourable accounts repeat-
93 Wellsburg, W. Va.
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edly received, I have the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that I have the prospect of completing five Ranges this season. - Having supplied the sur- veyors with the necessary guards, it was thought ad- viseable to proceed with the remainder of the troops and take such a position as to be able to afford the speediest relief in case of necessity; for which pur- pose the troops Marched, and on the 11th reached Cox's Fort, and on the same day recrossed the Ohio on their way to take a central position some where between the surveyors and the south limits of their respective Ranges. - The 12th continued in Camp to make some necessary arrangements previous to Marching in the Woods. - Thus much for the oper- ations of the Geographers Department to this Day. - As occurrences happen in future I promise myself the honour of communicating them by every favour- able opportunity. Be pleased to permit me to con- clude this Journal of Facts by observing that the many difficulties I have been obliged to encounter in the course of my duty, have been greatly eleviated by the cheerful and ready assistance afforded me on every occasion by Major Hamtramck.
I have the honour to be with every sentiment of Esteem and Respect
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant
Camp at the junction of
Weeling Rivulet and the
Ohio 12th October 1786-
Tho: Hutchins
[Indorsed:] Letter 12 Oct. 1786
Thomas Hutchins Read Nov 1786
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XL
INDIAN CHIEFTAINS TO GENERAL BUTLER (1786) 94
Sandusky 28th October 1786-
We, Chiefs of different Nations, Especially the Wyandotts, did inform you by your people who went by here some time ago with Cattle it being quiet and peaceable with us at that time. But since that time there has been some of your people at the Shawanoes Villages and destroyed them, and likewise killed ten of the Shawanoes and five of them was the principle Chiefs, and took a number of Prisoners, Women and Children. 95
We, Chiefs of different Nations was then at that time gathering together from every quarter in order to have a Council, concerning of settling affairs in the best manner and the peaceablest between you and Us both.
We, now acquaint you (since this affair has hap- pen'd) that you by all means keep back your people from coming this Way, for, or after, any sort of business, and likewise you will inform the Survey- ors to halt and not to survey any more at present, as we are going to have a great Council with all Na- tions at the Wyandott Town-After our Council is over we will give notice concerning our late misfor- tune and other affairs.
Signed
Abraham Coon Morrayet Haire Wyandott Chiefs
To Richª. Butler Gen1 Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
94 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 289.
95 Gen. George Rogers Clark's campaign in the fall of 1786; Col.
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XLI
INDIAN CHIEFTAINS TO GENERAL BUTLER (1786) 96
The answer of the Wyandotts and Delawares to the Speech sent to them by General Richard Butler Esquire Superintendent of Indian Affairs & deliv- ered to them by James Rankin 23rd September 1786-
Brothers of the Thirteen fires, We have heard what you said to us the other day. The peace we made at Beaver Creek [Fort McIntosh] we will al- ways hold that Belt of Friendship fast and wish you to do the same, and what you said about dividing the Land we likewise stand to it, but its best not to let it be divided yet .- There is something behind me I don't like, and something from your side does not look good, if we force this work of the Land now it may do mischief, its best let the Land alone till every thing is right.
Brothers were we Wyandotts and Delawares, to shew ourselves at the surveying of the Land we are very sure the other Nations of Indians towards the Sun Setting would whip us very sorely, for they are very angry and says we are just like the Amer- icans.
Brothers when we were at home we seen a black Cloud come from the Sun setting. We Wyandotts and Delawares pushed it back and it is still there. But now we see one rising behind you; you must look to it and push it away and make things clear. - Brothers, what We Wyandotts and Delawares say to you, you may be sure is right, and what News we Logan destroyed a number of Indian villages in Ohio in retaliation for constant raids directed against the Kentucky pioneers.
96 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 285.
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hear we will always let you know; and we thank you for appointing General Butler to take care of us; and that he will let us know what News you have. - Brothers, We hear that Capt. Brant and some of the Six Nations are gone by to the Shawanoes, and to the other Nations, and we are sent for; and we be- lieve you will be sent for that We may all hear what they have to say. Brothers the Delaware Captain Buckingechilas is come home from the Chickasaws Country and we are called on to go to his Town, to hear the News he has brought with him.
[Indorsed:] Copy
Half King of the Wyandotts & Capt. Pipes answer.
XLII
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1786) 97
Sir
I have the honour to inform your Excellency that notwithstanding the many unfavourable reports and disagreeable consequences which have very materi- ally contributed to retard the surveyors in their operations four Ranges are completely finished, and forty two Miles of the west side of the fifth Range Run. - The first and second Ranges were surveyed into Townships by Captain Martin, and the third and fourth by General Tupper, Colonel Sproat, Colonel Sherman and Mr Simpson. The above mentioned forty two Miles of the west bounds of the fifth Range
97 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 281.
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
was Run by Major Sergant .- I was exceedingly anxious to have the fifth, sixth and seventh Ranges completed in the course of this Winter; but it was the opinion of the surveyors that the severity of the weather would greatly retard their progress, as well as render the surveying business very expensive and disagreeable, they have therefore thought it most adviseable to retire from the business untill such time as it shall be found practicable to survey early in the spring, when they will attempt finishing the above mentioned Ranges. I shall be detained here untill such time as the Townships already surveyed are delineated on paper, which will probably take till the commencement of the ensuing year, when I shall lose no Time in proceeding with them to New York. - The latest and principal Intelligence re- ceived here since I wrote to your Excellency by Major Doughty the 12th of November last is con- tained in the enclosed papers Nº 1 and 2.98-For fur- ther particulars permit me to refer you to Colonel Sproat who is the bearer of these few Lines.
I have the honour to be with the greatest respect
Ohio County State of Virginia 2nd Decem" 1786
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant Tho: Hutchins
His Excellency the President of Congress [Indorsed:] Letter Decr 2. 1786 Thomas Hutchins progress made in survey speech of Indian chiefs & answers Read Feby 3ª 1787 -
98 Docs. xl, xli.
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XLIII
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1787) 99
Sir
I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency that I left the western Territory the 1st Instant and arrived here last Evening.
I have brought with me the Plats and descriptions of four Ranges completely surveyed into Townships containing in the whole Six hundred and seventy five thousand four hundred and eighty Acres.
I have the honour to be with every sentiment of esteem and respect Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant
New York 22nd Feby 1787
Tho : Hutchins
His Excellency the President of Congress
[Indorsed :] Letter Thos Hutchins 22 Feb' 1787 Read 26 that he has arrived with plats of the Country which is surveyed -
99 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 293.
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XLIV
ACCOUNTS WITH SURVEYORS OF SEVEN RANGES (1785-1786) 100
Dr The Surveyors of the Western Territory to the Geographer of the United States.
Dollars. 90ths Balances due
Adam Hoops Dr
1785 & 1786, To Cash per Receipts Dollars 324 30 By Surveying 12 Miles of the 2ª Range @ 2 dollars per Mile 24 300.30
William W. Morris Dr
1785 & 1786, To Cash, per Receipts 627. 4
By your expenditures in 1785, Dollars 303.12
By surveying 734 Miles in the 7th Range 15.45
318.57 308.37
Benjamin Tupper, Dr 1785 & 1786, To Cash per receipts By your expenditures in 1785, 189.27
751.72
By Surveying 63 Miles, 2 chains,
and 37 Links of the 3d Range, 126. 5
By Surveying 34 Mile of the 8th Range 1.45
316.77 434.85
Robert Johnston, Dr 1786, To Balance due per your Receipts,
166.14
James Simpson, Dr
1785 & 1786, To Cash, per receipts, 575. 0 By your expenditures in 1785, 250.75
100 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 309.
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By Surveying 30 Miles of the 6th Range, 60. 0 310.75
264.15
1
-
Amount carried forward. Dollars. .. 1474.90 Balances due Amount brought forward, Dollars 1474.1 Dollars 90ths
Winthrop Sargent, Dr
250.60
1786 To Cash, per Receipts By Surveying 60 Miles of the 5th Range,
120. 0
130.60
Ebenezer Sproat Dr
1786, To Balance due per your Receipts
398.60
Isaac Sherman Dr
1787, To Balance due per your Receipts,
353. 0
Edward Dowse, Dr
394. 0
1785, To Cash per receipts By your expenditures in 1785,
87. 0 307. 0
Samuel Montgomery Dr
1786, to Cash per Receipt,
70. 0
Charles Smith Dr
1786, To Cash advanced,
66.12
43
Dollars ... 2799 -
90
New York 10th March 1787. Tho : Hutchins
[Indorsed:] Captain Hutchins's
Account of Monies paid or advanced to Surveyors, and of Balances due by them.
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XLV
AUDIT OF SURVEYORS' ACCOUNTS (1787) 101
Office of Accounts New York 4th May 1787. Sir,
I have examined the Account of Thomas Hutchins Esquire Geographer to the United States and find :
That per the Register's Certificate here- with, he stands charged on the Treasury Books of the United States with the sum of Nine thousand seven hundred and forty one dollars,
Dollars 9741. 0
That he charges for his salary as Geog- rapher from the 27th day of May 1785 to the 31st day of March 1787 inclusive, which is equal to a period of 674 days @ 6 dollars per day amounts to the sum of dollars,
Dollars 4044. 0
Ditto for this sum paid the following Sur- veyors viz Benjamin Tupper, William W. Morris, Alexander Parker, James Simpson, Robert Johnston, Isaac Sherman, Absalom Martin, and Edward Dowse, for their ex- pences incurred in 1785, agreeably to a Res- olution of Congress of the 26th day of Sep- tember 1786 to the amount of 1673.62
Ditto for this ditto paid Ebenezer Sproat, James Simpson, Isaac Sherman, and Absa- lom Martin, for surveying 430 Miles, 55 Chains of the 1st 2ª 3ª and 4th Ranges @ 2 dollars per mile
861.31
Ditto for this ditto paid Adam Hoops, William W. Morris, Benjamin Tupper,
101 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 313.
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James Simpson, and Winthrop Sargent for surveying 1731/2 Miles, 2 Chains, and 37 links of the 2ª 3ª 5th 6th 7th and 8th Ranges @ 2 dollars per mile 347. 5
Amount brought forward ... Dollars 6926. 8
Amount carried forward Dollars ... 6926. 8 That he also charges sundry Contingent expences necessarily incurred in the Geog- rapher's Department as follows Viz
This sum paid W. Wilson in full for his services and expences in- curred in carrying a Message to the chiefs of the Delaware and Wyandott Nations the sum of 94.85
This ditto paid Robert Johnston, his expences going to, and return- ing from Philadelphia for public Monies for the use of the Geog- rapher's Department
115.46
This ditto paid Jacob Springer for his services and expences in- curred in Carrying a Message to the Shawanoes, Delawares, and Wyandott's Nations,.
214.30
This ditto paid Samuel Sample for a Canoe for the use of the said Department,
10. 0
This ditto paid Daniel Britt for a tin case for the purpose of put- ting Surveys and their descrip- tions in 1. 0
435.71
Dollars ... 7361.79
COPYRIGHTED. 1906. BY CHAS. R. MARTIN.
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DIVISION OF 100
GREENVILLE TREATY LINE
BUG, 3, 1795.
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SYMMES'
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LANDS
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CONG
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James Simpson, and Winthrop Sargent for surveying 1731/2 Miles, 2 Chains, and 37 links of the 2ª 3ª 5th 6th 7th and 8th Ranges @ 2 dollars per mile 347. 5
Amount brought forward ... Dollars 6926. 8
Amount carried forward Dollars ... 6926. 8 That he also charges sundry Contingent expences necessarily incurred in the Geog- rapher's Department as follows Viz
This sum paid W. Wilson in full for his services and expences in- curred in carrying a Message to the chiefs of the Delaware and Wyandott Nations the sum of 94.85
This ditto paid Robert Johnston, his expences going to, and return- ing from Philadelphia for public Monies for the use of the Geog- rapher's Department
115.46
This ditto paid Jacob Springer for his services and expences in- curred in Carrying a Message to the Shawanoes, Delawares, and Wyandott's Nations,.
214.30
This ditto paid Samuel Sample for a Canoe for the use of the said Department,
10. 0
This ditto paid Daniel Britt for a tin case for the purpose of put- ting Surveys and their descrip- tions in 1. 0
435.71
Dollars ... 7361.79
COPYRIGHTED, 1906. BY CHAS. R. MARTIN.
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DIVISION OF TOWNSHIPS IN U. S. MIL. DIST.
DIVISION OF TOWNSHIPSIN
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FIRE LANDS AND RESERVE. !
AFTER LAW OF 1799
MARTIN'S MAP OF OHIO SURVEYS ['The "Geographers Line, " from which point the survey of the Seven
anges began, is indicated by the arrow]
- - GREENVILLE TREATY LINE BUG, 3, 1795.
4
LANDS
6/5/4/3/21
# X X X M & XH X | X V KIV X TI XT X IX VALVE VI V V O M O
LINE
CONGRESS
FIRE LANDS
WESTERN
RESERVE
16|17 |2|23 222/ 2019/87/6 54|3|2|/1998765432/
GEOGRAPHERS INII
U. S. MILITARY DISTRICT
VIRGINIA MILITARY DISTRICT
OHIO COMPANY'S PURCA
SECTIONS NUMBERED
BEFORE LAW OF 1799
2
CONGRESS
7
2
LAKE ERIE
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
Leaving a Balance of Two thousand, three hundred, and seventy Nine dol- lars, and Eleven Ninetieths of a dollar due from Thomas Hutchins Dollars .. 2379.11 Dollars .. 9741. 0
Note, M' Hutchins charges in his account the sum of 2799.48ths dollars, being the balances due to him on Monies advanced to sundry Surveyors see his account herewith marked A, and for which he hath produced their Notes and receipts the aforesaid sum of 2799 ths dollars, cannot be passed to the credit of Mr Hutchins, as the respective persons who signed the Notes and Receipts in his favour are only ac- countable to Him.
William Tinney clerk of accounts.
To John D. Mercier Esq" Auditor
[Indorsed:] Nº 5442.
State of the Account of Thomas Hutchins Esq" Geographer.
To be Entered as within Stated - J.M. Entered accordingly ye 13th July 1787, in Blotter pa 2532. J:N:
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XLVI
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1787) 102
Sir
Permit me to inform your Excellency that in my attempts to execute surveys in the Western Terri- tory in the Years 1785, 86, and 87, it became abso- lutely necessary to advance to the respective sur- veyors certain sums of Money to purchase provi- sions, pay Chain carriers &e to enable them to exe- cute surveys agreeably to an Ordinance of Congress of the 20th of May 1785. - I have already said this advance was absolutely necessary, as without it, not an Acre of Land would have been surveyed by them. - Your Excellency will be pleased further to observe, that from the enclosed Copy of a Receipt, the surveyors oblige themselves to refund the Money advanced them, in case it should not be appropriated agreeably to the intentions of Congress. - permit me to declare in justice to the Gentlemen Surveyors, that I verily believe, the Monies they received from me, were by them expended, in attempting to make, and in executing of, surveys in the Western Terri- tory .- And as it appears by M' William Tinney, Clerk of Accounts remark at the bottom of the state- ment of my General Account which is herewith also enclosed, with the Auditors Report, that I have charged in my Account 279948ths Dollars being the balances due to me advanced to sundry surveyors appointed by Congress. See the Account herewith marked A and for which I have produced their Notes and receipts, the aforesaid Sum of 279948ths Dollars, cannot be passed to the Credit of my Account, as the
102 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 305.
183
Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
respective Persons who have signed the Notes and Receipts in my favour are only accountable to me. - I am now to observe that upwards of 9000 Dollars were put into my Hands by the Treasury in the Years 1785 and 86. - I humbly presume so large a sum was not Solely intended only for the discharge of my Salary as it would have been sufficient for that purpose for many Years to come : but I rather con- ceive it was intended for the payment of the sur- veyors in, and the Contingencies relative to, the Geographers Department. - That I have appropri- ated it to those purposes is evident from the Vouch- ers I have produced. - I therefore hope and expect Congress will think it just and reasonable to pass a Resolve directing that the Sum of 279943ths Dollars be carried to the Credit of my General Account. - Or that they will be pleased to signify that the above sum has not been disposed of agreeably to the inten- tions of that Honorable Body, that I may have it in my power to compel the Surveyors by legal prosecu- tion, in case of their refusing to return the Money without it.
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